My Journey Into LinoCut Prints

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Welcome To Linocut Prints For Sale

This site about my passion, Lino Cut Prints For Sale. If you have wandered here by mistake, the name is pretty self explanatory. I want to sell lino cut prints. If you have no idea what lino cutting is, you will find an amazing story about my exploration into linocutting, and why I set up this site

If you are strictly interested in linocut prints for sale, then please feel free to browse the for sale section. Alternatively leave your contact information on the form in the site. Leave me what style, what era, and what price range of print you looking for, and I will get back to you within 24 hours with a ton of options.

My Journey Into Linocutting.

I have always been an artist at heart, but never knew what type of art I could do or very good at it. I have experimented with everything you can imagine; watercolors, modern, classic, metalworking, woodworking. I have even tried dancing singing, acting. Do not even get me started about basket weaving; ok it’s freaking so boring. I have discovered art is so personal, and it takes a persistence to find the medium in which to express yourself.

It wasn’t until one dark winter night, when my girlfriend and I escaped our boredom, and decided to go to the local art studio that my linocut journey began. Upon our arrival we found a bustle in that studio we had not seen the few times we had been there before. The instructor told us to take a seat. He then introduced us to linocutting. After a brief 30 minute lesson we got our first project, a chunk of wood, some linoleum, some ink, and a bunch of weird looking tools, called a brayer, and a v-gouge cutting tool. It took some getting used to, but once I grasped the simple concept I was instantly hooked.

What do I like About Linocutting

Linocut, is a form of art making where you do not need to be perfect. I love how I can take a piece of wood, a carving knife and go to town carving a piece that you have no idea what it is going to be until the end. I normally get a block when it comes to creating art, however with linocutting, I can dive right in and not be afraid of how my piece is going to look.

I love the hands on nature of the art. The main skill you need for linocut is definitely patience. It is a skill that you just cannot rush. Every piece you create needs to be thought of as its own mold. What’s cool is that mold can be used over and over again.

A Brief History of Linocutting

Prior to writing about who are the best linocutters out there I would like to draw a little picture of the linocut history. I believe there is a great story about it.

With a name including linoleum you would not think a floor covering has anything to do with art, but to me that is what adds to the raw underground sex appeal. Also the story includes names, like Pablo Picasso so it’s got to be good, right?

Linoleum is obviously the stuff you put on floors. So how did it get into art? Well in the late 1800’s after the invention of linoleum, the greater printmakers of the day, wanted to use something cheaper in order to teach. The softer material also made it easier to cut into then wood. It is said the first artist to use the technique was Die Bruce, in Germany back in 1905. The artist’s described their pieces as woodcut to sound more hoity toity. Then in the 1920’s and 30’s Claude Light created a class teaching the new art form, and designated it as more of a printing. During this time Light had met an artist named Filippo Marinettit. Marinetti was leading the futurist movement and he felt that the linocutting fit right in to his concept. Then two artists named Cyril Power and Sybil Andrews developed the technique and really started to create amazing pieces adored by aristocracy and famous persons of the day.

It wasn’t until Matisse and Pablo Picasso got a hold of the technique that it really started to take off.

Pablo Picasso started to use linocut in the late 1950’s. He was inspired by Hidalgo Arnerar a printer who was right near Picasso’s studio in the south of France. Picasso took the linocut technique and innovated by using the one block process which he devised for color printing.

After Picasso got involved the industry took off. Instructors started teaching the process as part of printmaking all across the planet.

What about today?

So I am a little biased toward this topic, but today the art is going strong. There are a bunch of really great artists’ that I admire. My personal favorite is Linocut Boy. Nick Morley is a super passionate artist, and is all about creating amazing pieces.

Some of the other great artists out there are:

1. Bill Flick

2. Mark Webber

3. Peter Rapp

4. Steve Edwards

5. Victoria Browne.

What Does an Average Piece Cost?

A piece of art is super personal, and it really depends on how much you are willing to pay for it. What you need to know prior to buying a piece of art is what edition is the print that you are getting. If you are buying a first edition then you will need to expect to pay a lot more than a 50 or 100th edition. You will also need to examine the quality of the print. If there is any damage to the color or paper then that will reduce the price.

Overall there is no rule of thumb when it comes to buying art. Feel free to give me a call and I can make sure to walk you through the process I go for or consult you on the best price.

What do I need to Get Started?

There are a few items that you have to buy in order to get started. The initial capital outlay is not cheap, but when compared to the alternatives it is a fairly inexpensive hobby. In my view if you spend more money then you will have a more enjoyable experience, rather than swearing at a dull blade that hurts your hand.

My Top 10 Favorite Linocut Tools to get started in linocut making are:

1. Pfeil Tools – http://www.pfeiltools.com/en/distributors.html
Oh so crisp and clean these knives will slice that lino into little bits.

5. Carbon Paper http://intaglioprintmaker.com/shop/red-carbon-paper – start with the 4 inch one.
6. A Brayer – again I recommend Japan – http://intaglioprintmaker.com/category/japanese-hard-rubber-rollers
7. Satin Paper – there is a ton of option for paper, but satin is absorbent, has a great edge, and nice texture. Any fine paper store or Michaels.

8. Zest It – a must for cleaning up the oil based products. It is not harmful and has a please orange smell

9. Stone Set – you will need to sharpen those blades, so a stone set is a must. Available at http://intaglioprintmaker.com/shop/whetstone-sets-japan

10. Non slip matting – this is needed to go under your prints. Any dollar store will have this so go get it.

Now What

In conclusion I hope you have found the above information useful. I know that it is a very niche industry, but I love it. I hope you reference my site, and keep coming back. I will have new prints for sale and update the site as I can but remember I have stuff not on here so please call me or email if you are serious.

If you are really wondering what I do for a day job. I am a roof cleaner that removes moss and black mould from at www.roofcleaningvictoria.ca